The World Health Organisation has recently raised alarm in the health sector by publishing its first-ever list of fungal infections that can pose a grave threat to public health. This list, dubbed the Fungal priority pathogens list (FPPL), was compiled keeping in view the rising concerns related to fungal pathogens across the globe.
About the FPPL: What and Why?
The FPPL comprises 19 fungi identified as the most significant threats to human health. Inspired by the bacterial priority pathogens list established by the WHO in 2017, the list aims to spotlight and drive further research and policy initiatives to enhance the global response to fungal infections and antifungal resistance. The categorization of these pathogens is grounded in their public health impact and their emerging risk of antifungal resistance.
Within the FPPL, there are three major groups:
The Critical Priority Group
This group includes Candida auris, a highly drug-resistant fungus, along with Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida albicans.
The High Priority Group
The high-priority group contains other fungi from the Candida family and additional fungi such as Mucorales. This group also includes the notorious “black fungus,” an infection that saw a surge in seriously ill patients mainly in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Medium Priority Group
The medium priority group hosts a variety of fungi, including Coccidioides spp and Cryptococcus gattii.
Confronting the Threat: Recommended Actions
The FPPL report makes several recommendations for combating the threat of fungal infections. These include strengthening laboratory capacity and surveillance, supporting continued investments in research, development, and innovation, and propelling public health interventions for effective prevention and control.
Rising Concerns with Fungal Pathogens
Fungal pathogens pose a significant danger to public health and are becoming progressively common and resistant to treatment. Only four classes of antifungal medicines are currently available, and few alternatives are in the clinical pipeline. A concerning factor is the absence of rapid and sensitive diagnostics for most fungal pathogens, making treatment more challenging. Furthermore, existing diagnostic options are not globally affordable or accessible.
The prevalence and geographic span of fungal diseases have grown due to global warming, increased international travel and trade, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The latter has seen a significant surge in invasive fungal infections among hospitalized patients. As fungi causing common infections like candida oral and vaginal thrush grow increasingly resistant to treatment, the risk for more invasive infections among the general population is steeply increasing.
Populations at Risk
Patients severely ill and those with considerable underlying immune-related conditions are often affected by these fungal infections. Those at the highest risk include individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, organ transplants, chronic respiratory disease, and post-primary tuberculosis infection. These details call for urgent attention and action to control the spread and impact of these dangerous fungal pathogens.
Last Modified: February 18, 2024